What would happen to the environment if manatees went extinct?

What would happen to the environment if manatees went extinct?

What Would Happen If Manatee’s Went Extinct? Manatee’s are a vital piece of the Florida marine ecosystem. Without Manatee’s to eat large quantities of sea grass, the vegetation would become obstructive to Florida Waterways. By limiting vegetation growth they control mosquitos population and overgrowth.

What ecosystem do manatees live in?

Manatees inhabit rivers, bays, canals, estuaries and coastal areas moving freely between fresh, saline and brackish waters. Florida estuaries and freshwater lakes, springs and rivers provide extensive beds of seagrass and abundant freshwater aquatic vegetation that provide the manatee’s primary food sources.

Why are manatees important to the environment?

Because of their reliance on the health of their habitat, manatees often act as a signal of their environment’s well-being. Explore some of the most important (and amusing) facts about manatees: 1. The cow-like creatures are thought to have inspired mermaid legends.

Can we save the West Indian manatees?

If manatees continue to die at such a rate, with an estimated 7,500 animals left in the wild (before factoring in this year’s deaths), it could be only a matter of years left to save them — and clean up Florida’s water. West Indian manatees had been on the mend for many years before their fortunes changed.

How often do manatees come out of the water?

6 Facts About Manatees. 2. Manatees never leave the water but typically come up for air every 5 minutes. However, it depends on a manatee’s level of activity: when it is resting, the aquatic mammal can hold its breath for up to 20 minutes. When it is exerting great amounts of energy, a manatee may surface as often as every 30 seconds.

Why are manatees dangerous to boats?

Some of this algae is toxic and can kill manatees if they eat it. Because manatees feed on sea grass, and sea grass needs sunlight and shallow water to grow, manatees spend most of their time in shallow water. This often leaves them with little room to dive away from oncoming boats, which can lead to deadly collisions.